2011-04-10 1215 Innkjøring Haslemoen small

Haslemoen is a former military base situated in the village of Våler which lies in

Våler Municipality Vaaler or Våler or Valer may refer to: Places *Våler, Innlandet, a municipality in Innlandet county, Norway **Våler (village), village and administrative center of Våler municipality **Åsnes og Våler, a former municipality in Hedmark county ...

in Innlandet county, Norway. It was a military base from 1943 until its closure in 2003. It is also the site of

Haslemoen Airstrip Haslemoen Airstrip ( no, Haslemoen flyplass) is a recreational airfield situated at Haslemoen in the village of Våler in Våler Municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. Since 2003 the aerodrome only features a grass runway used mostly by ult ...

. It was also the site of Haslemoen Station, a stop along the Solørbanen railway line. Haslemoen is now used as a sporting center and it has been partially transformed into farmland. It also hosts a transit base for asylum seekers.

History

The interest to establish an airfield and military base at Haslemoen was first articulated by the Norwegian Army Air Service in the late 1930s. Their two main air stations in Eastern Norway, Kjeller and Gardermoen, were both too small. They therefore proposed that the relatively flat, forested areas at Haslemoen would be a suitable site for a main air station. Grants to expropriate was granted by Parliament in February 1940. Clearing of was completed by April. A planned meeting on 9 April concerning further construction was, however, interrupted by the

German invasion German invasion may refer to: Pre-1900s * German invasion of Hungary (1063) World War I * German invasion of Belgium (1914) * German invasion of Luxembourg (1914) World War II * Invasion of Poland * German invasion of Belgium (1940) ...

. Haslemoen was built in 1943 as a camp for conscripted labor services, serving in the Våler area. Haslemoen served in this capacity until the end of the year, when it was taken over by Luftwaffe. The airfield was taken into use in late 1944, although minor works continued until the end of the war in May 1945. Both a runway, measuring , and a taxiway were built, along with auxiliary buildings, barracks, hangars, storehouses and workshops. Haslemoen Base was rebuilt for the Artillery Battalion and opened on 24 April 1955. The base hosted the World Military Pentathlon Championship in 1964. The artillery was moved to

Rena Base Renas may refer to: Places * Rena, Badajoz, a municipality in Extremadura, Spain * Rena, Norway, a village in Innlandet county, Norway * Rena, Washington, a community in Clallam County, Washington, United States People * Rena (given name), list o ...

in 2003 and Haslemoen subsequently closed. The property was bought by Våler Municipality for 46 million

Norwegian krone The krone (, abbreviation: kr (also NKr for distinction); code: NOK), plural ''kroner'', is currency of the Kingdom of Norway (including Svalbard). Traditionally known as the Norwegian crown in English. It is nominally subdivided into 100 ''� ...

in 2007. The military abandonment saw the aeronautic facilities being used for motor sports. The pinnacle was hosting

2007 Rally Norway Rally Norway 2007, the third round of the 2007 World Rally Championship season, was held on February 16 – 18 2007. Race headquarters were located in the town of Hamar. Results Retirements * Guy Wilks - went off the road (SS9); * Toni ...

. The municipality changed the focus away from motor sports and instead initiated a program to cultivate of the former base, including the airfield area.

References

{{coord, 60.651, 11.871, type:landmark_region:NO, display=title Norwegian Army bases Military installations in Innlandet Våler, Innlandet 1943 establishments in Norway 2003 disestablishments in Norway